Face and head protector



Sept. 8, 1970 L, L; PRATER 3,527,461

FACE AND HEAD PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 22, 1968 INVENTOR.

LLOYD L. PRATER ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,527,461 PatentedSept. 8, 1970 US. Cl. 273-1 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aprotector is provided for the face and head of a wearer who isparticipating in a game which involves being struck at these portions ofthe anatomy, the same including means for rendering an audible signalwhich indicates a blow and the approximate location thereof.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 537,346 entitled Game of Scrap, filed Mar. 25, 1966, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to games such as boxing bouts wherein theparticipants frequently undergo blows to the face and head, andparticularly to protection against injury of these parts of the anatomy.

It is among the objects of the invention to assume protection of thetype referred to while at the same time indicating to a scoring oflicialor other observer the area of contact of the blow.

Another objective is the attainment of the immediately foregoing objectsin a manner which in no way impedes or inhibits the wearer.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the class describedwhich is efiicient for its intended purposes, easy and inexpensive tomanufacture, and durable in service.

Other objects, embodiments, features and arrangements will be apparentto those skilled in the art from the following description and annexeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a face and head protector whichhas been constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view which is similar in nature to the view of FIG. 1 butillustrating more clearly the rear. or head-protecting portion of thedevice.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in section, and illustratingthe positioning of the protector for the entire face of the wearerincluding nose, cheeks, forehead and chin, as well as the top, back,ears and sides of the head.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views which are similar in nature to the view of FIGS.1 and 2, respectively, but which illustrate modifications.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the number 20 generallydesignates a face and head protector which embodies the teachings of theinvention.

The face portion of the face and head protector is indicated at 21 andthe head portion at 22. Both of these elements are composed of leather,rubber, plastic or other suitable soft pliable material, and containpadding as indicated at 21a and 22a.

In the face portion 21 suitable apertures are pro vided for the eyes andmouth of the wearer, as indicated at 21b and 210, respectively.

As shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, within the padding 21a whichis above and forwardly of the nose of the wearer is a generallyhorizontally extending curvilinear resilient metallic strip or bar 23having downwardly extending arcuate ends which are positioned beneathand forwardly of the eye sockets of the wearer.

The resiliency of the bar 23 is of considerable importance since a morerigid counterpart would be liable to transmit shock to the nose andadjacent eye areas of the wearer.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rearward extremity of the head portion 22 isvertically divided, as shown at 24, and the edges thereof held togetherwith cooperating straps 25. However, a single pair of straps 26, or anyother suitable fastening elements, may be substituted therefor.

In FIG. 4a a modified form of resilient metallic reen'forcing element isshown as a grill comprising a pair of spaced parallel bars or strips 28which are connected by a series of spaced parallel vertically extendingbars or strips 30. It will be noted that in this embodiment (FIG. 4) thecenter of the grill which registers with the mouth opening 210 isunobscured.

It is contemplated that in all forms or embodiments of the inventionthere be at least one so-caller squealer" disposed within the padding21a and 22a at vulnerable points with respect to the face and head ofthe wearer.

In FIG. 1 a squealer 32 is shown as disposed adjacent the point of thechin of the wearer with a pair of squealers 34 thereabove, one beingopposite each cheek.

In FIG. 3 a squealer 36 is shown as positioned immediately in front ofthe nose of the wearer. Since the back of the head is also a vulnerablearea, a squealer 38 may be disposed adjacent thereto as well as asquealer 40 adjacent the ears and side of the face of the wearer.

While all of the squealers 32, 3434, 36, 38 and 40-41 may be in the samesound range, substantial differences therein provide an instant andsatisfactory means for determining the more or less exact area of theblow to thus aid in scoring.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective and score-indicating face and head covering for use inboxing activities which comprises a padded and form-retaining butsubstantially pliable member; said padded member being shaped andadapted to cover substantially the entirety of the face of the wearer;

said padded member having an aperture extending cross-wise thereof topermit the substantially uninterrupted vision of the wearer and asimilarly extending aperture for enabling the wearer to speak freely andclearly therethrough;

a reenfrocing member disposed between and extending parallel to theaforementioned apertures;

said reenforcing member being slightly resilient and adapted to holdadjacent portions of said padded member out of contact with the face ofthe wearer;

a member secured to said padded member for covering the head of thewearer;

means for securing said last-named member in place;

and'

a noise-emitting device disposed in said padded member and adapted toemit an audible signal whenever a substantial blow is applied to saidpadded member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the member secured to the padded memberfor covering the head of the wearer is also padded.

3. The device of claim 1 together with a plurality of noise-emittingdevices in different locations and constnucted to emit noise indifferent tonal ranges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 2,777,127 1/1957 Marietta 29 XR3,220,014 11/1965 Strohm et al 29 OTHER REFERENCES Sears ChristmasCatalog, 1962, p. 446.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 29

